Most of the issues have been touched on here already. The "collectors" were upset during the boom that quantities where driving the value of their investment down. The industries solution was to limit production numbers and drive the prices up. That disinterested a bunch of people.

Chances of making a good invstment are slim but examples would be the Force Halloween cars and Garlits streamliner. Here's a couple of my favorites...some you just have to have.

My dad and I started collecting them back in the late 90's as a hobby for us to do together. We got really involved in it and almost started dealing them. Glad we didnt now though. For every birthday, fathers day, Christmas, etc thats what we gave each other. Plus we bought alot of them ourselves too. I would say that I have personally spent $3k or so on diecast just myself.

About 2 years ago we slowed down alot and now really only buy the cars we really like mainly b/c it did get really expensive. I have alot of Force ofcourse but I actually mix it up some. I have the Force 100 Wins car, the 96 Force Driver of the Year car, Steve Kinser's #11 World of Outlaws Sprinter, and Tony Shoe's 99 Exide TF Championship dragster all in a case signed in my office at work. Also Blaine Johnson, Bob Glidden, and Mark Martin. You'd be surprised the people who actually know who they are.

I still say the best place to buy them is ebay, you can get them alot cheaper than at the track or from a dealer. Hopefully by Dallas Mike Ashley's car with Evan's face will be out in diecast b/c thats the one I really want now.

Force's Race Station has alot of stuff but like stated earlier, there's hardly a diecast there under $100.

FWIW, I never thought of them as investments. They're just kind of fun to have around. Unfortunately, our government's ridiculous tobacco legislation limits the opportunities for my favorite team to sell their stuff. Really stinks. Snake's Final Strike Tour, Ron and TJ's cars, all pretty tough to find unless you're at a race. Thanks, US government for saving me from those evil diecasts.

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What Charles, you dont like the King Kenny sponsored cars or the Snake sponsored cars. Scelzi, Bazemore, etc. I never bought any that werent the right car. I hear you. I think the one I saw the most was Rusty Wallace's Miller Lite car with Rusty on it.

I always bought what I liked. I have the Mooneyes car when Kenji was driving and I have the Creasy family car too. Of course I also have some of the very early Force cars that are rear. I saw one for sale at the force site for about $500.

Maybe someday I will part with them to help pay for my toy.... Someday

jim

Anybody have a Blue Motley Crue car they want to get rid of???

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Shift for Brains!!!!

I still have a bunch of RCCA/Action Top Fuel Dragsters, Funny Cars and a few Pro Stockers from many years ago (around 1992-1995). I think they over produced themselves out of the Drag Racing business. I remember they used to always sell out when they only made 2000 pcs. When they started increasing the quantities and not selling out anymore I stopped buying them. You would think the manufacturers would realize that if you make less then you could sell of each model, you will always be able to sell everything you make. I think there were about 2500 hardcore collectors and when they started making 3000, 5000 and even more, they lost a lot of the original collectors. Eventually it becomes a money losing business.

The coolest one that I have is Snake's yellow Hot Wheel's 'Cuda that comes to life.

Drag Racer Magazine runs a column in every issue that shows whats new in the die cast world... There is always 2 to 6 new offerings bi-monthly.. Some pretty cool...

I'm a plastic, build-em-yourself kinda collector- nice collection of 60-80' era drag and production stock model kits at home. That's the market that went cold about the time the die-cast craze hit... Why build-em-youself when you don't have to do anything?

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Lets just say that its a good thing they dont make alot of pro mod diescast otherwise I'd be broke.

AMEN Charles!!!
And now they can't do any tobacco die-casts!!!
Tho I mainly collect Camaros, I really wanted a TJ Monte/Impala with the current paint scheme!!!

Joe; can't help ya out with the Motley Crue car.
I gotta get off my butt & find a KJ Kiss Camaro!!!

Can't wait to see the SkyTel die-cast if & when they finish selling all the Miller cars!!!

I love my Milestone 1/16th Miller Lite car.
Did have to wait a year for the price to come down but it was well worth it!!! Plus Brenda had a connection that made awesome display cases (etched glass, the Snake logo, Larry's signature); got one for the 1/16th and one for the '02 championship car!

I only collect the 1/16th Milestone cars.If they end up putting out the Gary Scelzi 4 time champ car I'd definitely be looking for that one.

I too own a ton of die-cast. My favorites hard to find real collectables like my orginal Revell Army models kits and ARMY Hot Wheels F/C still in the orginal packaging. Really wish the would have made more Glidden die-cast stuff.

Maybe the "new owners" or the NHRA will do a better job of marketing and we'll see NHRA drag cars on Wal-Mart shelves again.

I agree, the Wal-Mart versions was a good idea. They looked good enough to sit on someone's desk at the office; but were also cheap enough to be thrown across the room by a bratty 5 year old. Another thing I was thinking about is how - particularly the drag race vehicles - have morphed and evolutionized as far as detail goes over the years. When Action first started out, for the engine all you got was a grey plastic block, chrome plated valve covers & blower with painted butterflies on an Enderle birdcatcher. If you REALLY shelled out the money, you got little red spark plug wires.
Today's cars are extremely and amazingly detailed. Interesting to note, the stock cars/nascars haven't changed hardly at all.

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On my arm until the day I die, but in my heart forever

I have 30 Milestone Drag Racing Cars, four of their amazing 1/16 NASCAR cars and one of the incredible 1/6 scale Greer/Black

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"The Counterfeiter"